My Nonprofit Reviews

We love the fact that the Menil exhibitions are open to all -- never an admission fee. For those who choose to invest in a membership, the museum offers additional access to rich experiences such as home collection tours and curator-led tours of shows. It is incredibly fulfilling to be invested in a place like the Menil that is so meaningful to our family and our city.

The Menil was a primary reason why I was excited to move to Houston in 2010 and it continues to be the jewel of this city that I would most miss if I ever were to move away. I appreciate the accessibility of the museum--small enough to explore in a couple hours, always free and tucked right in the heart of the Montrose neighborhood. In addition to the unparalleled surrealist collection and provocative contemporary works, the Menil offers fascinating programming--obscure music and dance performances, rare artist talks. Some of my favorite talks have been those by Richard Serra, Brice Marden and Luc Tuymans.

When people ask me why I love Houston, the Menil is the first reason that comes to mind. The museum has been a bedrock in my and my family's life in this city since we moved here in 2010. It is a rare thing to have this quality of art nestled in the middle of a neighborhood like Montrose. The museum itself is a calming space--despite the often challenging, provocative art--that immediately elevates you above whatever you were dealing with before you walked in the doors. It is a space open to anyone, always free, not pretentious but instead committed to making the highest forms of art accessible to any person who cares to engage.